comly



4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

EN0 Model.)

J. P. GOMLY, Dec'd.

G. N. COMLY. Administrator. PAPER FEEDING MACHINE.

.Patented Dec. 81., 1895.

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ANDREW EGEAHAM. PNOTO-LITHQWASHINGTO N. [1.6:

(No Model.\ 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. P. GOMLY, Deod.

G. N. COMLY. Administrator. PAPER FEEDING MACHINE.

No. 552,421 Patented Dec. 31, 1895.

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J. P. GOMLY, Decd.

C. N. COMLY. Administrator. PAPER FEEDING MACHINE.

No 2,421. Patented Dec. 31, 95. Q

.9 'm il 4 Sheets-Sheet 4. J. P. OOMLY, Deod, C N COMLY. Admimstrator.PAPER FEEDING MACHINE.

{No Model.)

No. 552421. Patented 119.0. 31, 1895.

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ANDREW BARNMM. PHOTO-UTNQWASMINFION. D C

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES N. COMLY, ADMINISTRATOR OF JOHN P. OOMLY, DECEASED, OF LEBANON,OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FOURTH TO SAMUEL IV. PROBASOO,

OF SAME PLACE.

PAPER-FEEDING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 552,421, dated December31, 1895.

Application filed December 18, 1894. Serial No. 532,194. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, CHARLES N. OOMLY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Lebanon, in the county of Warren and State of Ohio,administrator of the estate of JOHN P.

OOMLY, deceased, late of Lebanon, in the county of \Varren and State ofOhio, do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention of the said JOHN P. OOMLY of an Improvementin Automatic Feeding and Registering Machines, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

This invention relates to a machine for an- I 5 tomatically feeding andregistering single sheets of paper, but more particularly to registeringand feeding sheets of paper to a printing-press.

The primary object of the invention,is to provide means whereby a singlesheet of paper may be taken from a pile and properly conveyed to thegages of a printing-press or other machine, to provide means forproperly registering or aligning the sheet before leav- 2 5 ing thefeeding-machine, to provide means whereby uniformity of the margins maybe preserved when it is desired to print both sides of the sheet, and toprovide means by which the different mechanisms may be oper- 0 ated froma single source of power.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple, efficient anddurable machine which may be used in connection with folding, ruling,envelope and other machines of various designs.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in theconstruction and combination of the several parts, as will be more fullyhereinafter described, and then more particularly defined in the claimsat the end of the description.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of thisspecification, Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly broken away, illus-4 5 tratin g the machine as applied to a printingpress. Fig. 2 is a planview. Fig. 3 is afragmental-y sectional elevation on theline III III ofFig. 1 of the paper-lifting mechanism. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary rearelevation of the 5'0 paper-lifting mechanism. Fig. 5 is a side eleingmechanism.

vation of the mechanism illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. Fig. 6 is afragmentary view illustrating the means for operating the grippers whichconvey the sheet after it has been raised from the pile to theregistering device. 5 5 Fig. 7 is afragmentary plan view showing themechanism for raising the sheet off the traveling belts after it hasbeen properly registered. Fig. 8 is a plan view of a modified form ofregistering or sheet-aligning device, and Fig. 9 is a sectional view onthe line IX IX of Fig. 8.

In the drawings, A may designate a frame of any preferred constructionprovided with suitable bearings in which is journaled the shaft A, towhich the press-cylinder A is secured. On the outer end of this shaft isthe master gear-wheel a, which engages an intermediate spur-gear ct,which in turn meshes with the gear 60 the latter being secured to theshaft a which extends transversely of the machine and is journaled inthe frame A.

The paper B is placed upon a table I), beneath which is arranged aseries of springs I), supported upon the seat 12 the said seat beingsecured to the frame in any approved manner. These springs tend to raiseand keep the pile of paper in its proper position, so that a singlesheetmay be raised by the lift- This mechanism maybe of So any suitableconstruction; but it is preferable to employ a series of cylinders orexhausts b which are located at intervals transversely of the machine,and which are suitably supported upon the cross-rod b the latter hav- 85 ing depending stems If, which pass through apertures in the frame A.The stems have nuts I) 011 the ends thereof and spiral springs 19surrounding said stems below the framebeam, which normally press thestems downpend from a cross-rod 0 the said cross-rod 10o being securedto the upper ends of the vertically-movable rods 0 These rods arearranged on opposite sides of the machine and pass through brackets 0'arranged on a portion of the frame, and are provided on their lower endswith antifriction-rollers c, which abut against the edge of the cams csecured to the shaft (1 by which the rods are raised. The springs cwhich surround the lower ends of the rods serve to keep the rollers inconstant contact with the cams and to return the plungers of theexhausts after they have been raised. The rods 0 above the brackets c,are provided with cams or cam-surfaces c which contact withantifriction-rollers ar ranged on the lower ends of bell-crank leversc", which are pivoted to projecting portions c of the frame, the saidbell-crank levers being connected at their other ends with the cross-barb by the pitmen c". It will be seen by this construction that as theplungers are raised to cause a suction in the cylinders to lift theforward edge of a sheet of paper from the pile the cylinders will alsobe raised, but at a slower speed, and after a partial movement of theplungers, so that the edge of the sheet is not only lifted by thesuction created in said cylinders, but is carried by the same a properdistance to be held in position to be conveyed to the registeringdevice.

The sheet being raised from the pile of paper by the action of theexhausts, the rockbar D by means of the leaf (1, which now passes underthe edge of the sheet, will hold the same in a raised position andprevent the sheet as it is withdrawn from disturbing the other sheets ofthe pile. This leaf d is secured to or formed integral with the angularlevers (1, which are loosely mounted upon the stay-rod (P, the saidbell-crank levers having the arms d arranged in the path of movement ofthe crossrod 0 which operates the plungers, and are retained in contacttherewith by springs (1 The springs d surround and have one of theirends secured to the stay-rod or brace d and their other ends passedunder the arms so as to normally raise the leaf cl, while the downwardmovement of the crossrod c-, caused by the recoil of the springs 0 'willmove the rock-bar on its pivot, throwing the leaf out of the path of thenext sheet of paper after the one raised has been taken to theregistering or aligning device.

As the rock-lever D holds the sheets, the grippers E, comprising thejaws e and e, which are pivotally connected together, grasp the forward.edge of the sheet of paper to remove the same from the pile. The jaw cof each gripper is secured by a set-screw or otherwise to a cross-bar 6which connects the frames or end pieces E of the carriage E arranged totravel back and forth upon the tracks which are located above andsecured to or formed integrally with the frame A. The lower jaw c hasits end passed through a cam-slot e of the reciprocating rod 6, wlnchhas its ends mounted in the frames of the carriage. This reciprocatingrod has a roller e journaled upon the end of said rod and arranged inthe path of the cams e and 6 located at the rear and fore partsrespectively of the frame and extending outwardly therefrom, whereby thegrippers may be closed as the carriage moves rearward to grasp the sheetand opened when moving forward, so that the sheet may be taken from thepile to be properlyregistered. This carriage E may be of any suitableconstruction, but it is preferable to use the frames E, before referredto, on which are journaled the antifrietional rollers or Wheels 0",which embrace the upper and under sides, respectively, of the tracks 6and serve to guide the carriage thereon, the said carriage beingconnected to the master-wheel a and the crank f secured to the shaft Aon opposite sides of the machine by the pitmen f by which the saidcarriage is caused to move back and forth as the shaft A rotates.

For registering or aligning the paper before being taken by the grippersof the press-cylinder there is provided a registering device G,comprising a table G having the side beams g g, secured together by thebars g g, which are of sufficient length to permit said table toreciprocate transversely of the frame, through which the ends of bars g'g pass. The said table having the shafts (1 9 journaled in the ends ofthe beams and provided with a series of grooved pulleys g around whichare endless belts 9 which tend to convey the sheet forward after thesame has beendropped onto the table by the carriage E The shaft 9 of thetable is rotated by the gear 9, secured to the outer end of said shaft,which is in mesh with the spur-gear g that in turn meshes with the gear(t the face of the gear g being of sufficient length to permit the tableto reciprocate back and forth and yet be constantly rotated. This tableis reciproeated by the angular rock-lever II, which has a knuckle-jointor other suitable connection 7b with a bracket h extending outwardlyfrom the frame A. The upper end of the r0cklever is pivotally secured toa stud 76 which passes outwardly from the table G through an aperture inthe frame, and has its other end provided with a roller which enters agroove in the double-acting cam h which is secured to the outer end ofthe shaft (L3, so that as said shaft rotates the lever H will be rockedon its pivot, thereby moving the table according to the direction of themovement of said lever. In the position shown, the table and sheet havemoved toward the gage h which is secured to the frame and is adjustablyheld thereon by the set-screw 7r", the sheet in the meantime beingcarried forward by the endless belts g to the front gages h h, therebyplacing the sheet in its proper position.

\Vhen the sheet arrives at the front and side gages and is properlyregistered, it is necessary that the sheet should become stationary, andto eifect this plates I are ar-' ranged between the tapes provided withdepending arms 1', which are secured to or formed integrally with ashaft 1" j ournaled in and reciprocating with the table G. The shaft t"is provided with depending arms 11 near the opposite ends of' saidshaft, which connect, by the pitmen'i to the bell-crank levers 2'pivoted to studs 7? arranged on the table G, the outer end of saidbell-crank levers being arranged to contact with the stops 1' dependingfrom the frame, as best shown in plan in Fig. 7. This mechanism isarranged on opposite sides of the machine, so that thesheets will belifted off the endless tapes or belts g whether the table moves to oneside or to the other. At the time the sheets are lifted the gages h areraised in any approved manner, and the grippers 71- of thepress-cylinder take the sheet to be printed in the usual and wellknownmanner.

The operation of the machine will be readily understood from theforegoing description. It will be seen when the sheets are arranged asshown, and the machine started, that as the plungers of the exhaust orcylinders b are raised, as heretofore explained, the forward edge of thetop sheet will be lifted, at which time the rock-bar D will be pressedupwardly by the springs d to hold the sheet in this position. Thecarriage E by its operating mechanism then moves rearwardly and causesthe gripper E to grasp the edge of the paper which is withdrawn from thepile as the carriage moves forward till the roller .6 contacts with thecam 6 This reciprocates the rod 6 oppositely to the other1novement,thereby opening the gripping-jaws e, causing the sheet to bedropped upon the table G, which is now moving transversely of themachine to the side gage, as the endless belts g carry the sheet forwardto the front gages. The sheet is now lifted off the tapes by the platesI and their operating mechanism, and the front gages 77. raised so thatthe grippers h may take the sheet to be.

printed. After the sheet has been printed on one side it is sometimesdesirable to print the same on the other side yet preserving uniformityof the margins. In this case the sheets of paper already printed areturned end for end and placed on the table I) similar to the pile B. Thecam 71.3, which is secured to the shaft a by the set-screwh is moved sothat the cam-groove h will be engaged by the end of the rock-lever H,and as this groove is oppositely arranged to the other groove of saidcam the table G will consequently be reciprocated in the other directionor toward the side gage h carrying the sheets in that direction. Theoperation of the machine, with the exception of the direction ofmovement of the table G, is the same as heretofore explained.

Instead of providing a registering device, as G,there maybe used in someinstances,such as shown in Figs. 8 and 9. Here the table J is arrangedto be placed at different angles, so that the sheet instead of beingcarried bodily to one side of the machine to be aligned or registered ismade to travel obliquely by the belts j to the respective side and frontgages. This table has the side beams j,-in which are journaled thepulley-shafts jf; having the tapes 7' passing around said pulleys. Theshaft j is pivotally mounted on the end of an upright shaft is and has amiter-gear k in mesh with a similar gear 10 near the upper end of theupright shaft, by which the shaft j is rotated. The table is supportedon the frame in any suitable manner, and for this purpose there may beprovided an are m extending outwardly from one of the beams of saidtable which is adapted to be secured to abracket m on the frame when thetable is shifted to vary the angle of the same. From the other beam ofthe table extends a projection provided with a set-screw m which engagesthe frame according to the position of the table, and further serves tosupport said table upon the frame. In the position shown in full linesthe sheet of paper will travel toward the side gage n and front gages n01, while if the table should be shifted to the position shown by dottedlines the paper would then travel toward the side gage n andfront gages71. or. By this arrangement the sheet may be properly registered oraligned and printed on both sides of the sheet, still retaininguniformity of the margins. The sheet of paper may be conveyed to thetable by mechanism such as described in the other figures, and the sheetmay be raised off the traveling belts by the plates 0, which areconnected to averticallymovable rod This rod is operated by the cam 0secured to the cylinder-shaft and the rock-lever 0 pivoted to the frame,or the said rod may be operated in any other approved manner. The paperin this case is taken from the plates 0 in the manner heretoforedescribed.

The atmospheric exhaustsand pistons may be secured to their respectivecross-rods in such manner as to be capable of being moved transverselythereof in order that they may be massed to lift sheets of paper ofgreater weight, and may be so constructed that two or more can be usedin accordance with the size of sheet to be raised. Instead of theexhausts raising and lowering, the pile of paper may be caused to raiseand lower by means of cams.

Other means than the pneumatic devices shown may be employed forseparating the sheet of paper from the pile, and instead of rock-lever Hfor reciprocating the registeringtable a bell-crank lever having one ofits arms in the path of movement of a vibrating or other movable levermay be employed. Other changes of a substantially like character may bemade, if so desired, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new, anddesired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In a feeding machine, the combination with means for separatingsheets of paper from a pile, of a registering table; said table beingarranged to convey the paper to a side gage located on either side ofthe machine and to simultaneously advance the sheet to front gages,mechanism for conveying the separated sheets to said registering table,means for changing the direction of movement of the paper to either sideof the machine, together with mechanism carried by the table for raisingand holding the sheet stationary after being registered, whereby thesheets may be properly aligned and printed on both sides whilepreserving uniformity of the margins, substantially as described.

2. In a feeding machine, the combination with means for forwardingsheets of paper from a pile, of a reciprocating table which receivessaid sheets and carries the same to a side gage, mechanism carried bysaid table for simultaneously and continuously advancing the sheet tofront gages, together with means for givingmovement to said table,substantially as described.

In a feeding machine, the combination with means for separating sheetsof paper from a pile, of a registering table, mechanism for conveyingthe paper to said registering table; said table being arranged to conveythe paper to a side gage located on either side of the machine, meanscarried by the table for simultaneously and continuously advancing thesheet to front gages, together with means for changing the direction ofmovement of the paper to either side of the machine, whereby the sheet-smaybe printed on both sides while preserving uniformity of the margins,substantially as described.

4. In a feeding machine, the combination with a frame, and means mountedthereon for raising the edge of a sheet of paper, of a carriagecomprising two end-pieces located on opposite sides of the machine andsuitably connected together by braces; said carriage extendingtransversely of the frame and arranged to travel back and forth thereon,grippers mounted on said carriage adapted to grasp the raised sheets, arod slidingly held in the frames and engaging one member of each gripperto raise or lower the same, cams arranged 011 the frame at the rear andfore parts thereof and in the path of travel of said carriage foroperating the grippers, together with means for moving the carriage,substantially as described.

In a feeding machine, the combination with a support, of a carriagecomprising two end-pieces located 011 opposite sides 'of said supportand suitably connected together by braces and adapted to travel back andforth on said support, grippers comprising two members mounted on thecarriage, a rod slidingly held in the frames and engaging one member ofeach gripper to raise or lower the same, together with means foroperating the rod, substantially as described.

6. In a feeding machine, the combination, with a frame and a trackarranged on each side thereof, of a carriage adapted to grasp the edgeand convey a raised sheet of paper forward; said carriage comprisingend-pieces suitably connected together by rods and provided withanti-frictional rollers embracing the upper and the under sides of saidtracks, grippers comprising two members mounted on said carriage adaptedto grasp the forward edge of a raised sheet, a rod slidingly held in theend-pieces and engaging one member of each gripper to raise or lower thesame, together with means for operating the rod, substantially asdescribed.

7. In a feeding machine, the combination with mechanism for raisingsheets of paper from a pile, of a rock-bar for holding the sheet raised,springs for causing the rock-bar to engage the under side of the raisedsheets; said rock-bar being arranged in the path of movement of thesheet-lifting mechanism so as to be lowered by and simultaneously withsaid mechanism to permit a sheet to be raised by the sheet-liftingmechanism after the preceding sheet has been carried forward andseparated from the pile, substantially as described.

8. In a feeding machine, the combination with vertically movablemechanism for raising sheets of paper from a pile, of a rock-bar forholding the sheet raised, means for causing the rock-bar to engage theunder side of the raised sheets; said rock-bar being arranged in thepath of movement of the sheet lifting mechanism, so as to be lowered byand simultaneously with said mechanism to permit a sheet to be raised bythe sheet-lifting mechanism after the preceding sheethas been carriedforward and separated from the pile, substantially as described.

9. In a feeding machine, the combination with means for forwardingsheets of paper to ward a front gage, of a table reciprocatingtransversely to the path of movement of said sheets to simultaneouslycarry said sheets to front and to side gages, and means carried by saidtable for raising and holding the sheet stationary, substantially asdescribed.

10. In a feeding machine, the combination with means for forwardingsheets of paper toward a front gage, of a table reciprocatingtransversely to the path of movement of said sheets to carry said sheetsto a side gage, a right and left cam, together with means connected tothe table and operated by said cam so as to move said table either toone side or to the other at the proper time with respect to the forwardmovement of the sheets, whereby the said sheets may be printed on bothsides while preserving uniformity of the mar gins, substantially asdescribed.

1.1. In a feeding and registering machine,

ITO

the combination with means for forwardingthe sheets toward front gages,of a trans versely reciprocating table for conveying the sheet to a sidegage, means for reciprocating said table together with mechanism carriedby said table for raising the sheet and holding the same stationaryafter the same has been registered, substantially as described.

12. The combination with a frame, of a series of open-ended cylindersarranged transversely thereof, pistons working in said cylinders, meansfor operating the pistons, together with means for simultaneouslyraising the cylinders at a slower speed than the movement of thepistons, substantially as described.

1 3. In a feeding machine, a pneumatic sheet lifting device comprising aseries of openended cylinders, pistons working in said cylinders, across-rod secured to the stems of the pistons, a second cross-rodsecured to the cylinders, and means for vertically moving the twocross-rods, whereby the pistons and cylinders may be simultaneouslyraised but at different speeds, substantially as and for the purposedescribed.

14. In a machine of the character described, a registering devicecomprising a transversely reciprocating table mounted upon a suitableframe, the said table having a series of belts traveling transversely tothe movement of the table, means for giving movement to the belts,

and means for reciprocating the table, sub stantially as described.

15. In afeeding and registering machine, the combination with means forconveying a sheet of paper forward, of a reciprocating table adapted toreceive the sheet, traveling belts arranged on the table for conveyingthe sheet to a front gage, together with means for reciprocating thetable to convey the sheets to a side gage, substantially as described.

16. In a feeding and registering machine, the combination with thetransversely reciprocating table, of plates carried thereby andreciprocating with said table, together with means for raising saidplates, substantially as described.

17. In a feeding and registering machine, the combination with areciprocating table mounted upon a suitable frame, of a rockshaftjournaled in the table and carrying plates for raising a sheet of paperwhen placed upon the table, a bell-crank lever pivoted to said table andconnected to the rock-shaft, together with means for operating thebellcrank lever, substantially as described.

' In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

CHARLES N. COMLY, Administrator of John P. Oomly, deceased.

Witnesses:

S. A. CHAMBERLIN, S. W. PRoBAsoo.

